News Brief: A UNICEF report reveals that approximately 1.5 million children in Pakistan fall victim to online sexual abuse annually. According to the report, about 85 percent of perpetrators are known to the victims, and 71 percent of the affected children do not disclose the incidents to anyone. In response, the Punjab government has proposed a ban on social media use for children under 16 years of age. October 5, Islamabad (AFP).
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted in a recent report that nearly 1.5 million children in Pakistan are subjected to online sexual abuse each year. Due to social stigma, shame, and fear of family or societal backlash, most victims remain silent about their experiences. A 17-year-old girl, identified as Zara Shah for security reasons, described how she encountered an attempt at sexual abuse while playing an online game. According to Zara, the perpetrator initially gained her trust through friendly behavior, later invited her to meet and demanded nude pictures. When she refused, she was threatened with the dissemination of their private conversations to her family.
The UNICEF report states that approximately 85 percent of offenders are familiar individuals. These perpetrators exploit online games, friendly chats, gifts, money, or promises of love to gain children’s trust. It further notes that around 71 percent of victims choose not to report these incidents to anyone. None of the survey participants had filed formal complaints with the police, helplines, or social workers. Mehak Naeem, director of the child rights organization Pehchan, explained that about 44 percent of reported cases occur entirely online, with Snapchat and WhatsApp being the most commonly used platforms.
With roughly 74 percent of children aged 12 to 17 in Pakistan using the internet, online safety presents a growing challenge. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has proposed prohibiting social media use for children under 16, a move that digital rights activist Usama Khilji believes will be difficult to enforce and may restrict children’s freedom of expression. Tahira Afrasiab, spokesperson for Muslim Hands, emphasized that while legal frameworks exist in Pakistan to prevent technological misuse against children, enforcement remains ineffective. Human rights lawyer Salman Afridi noted that perpetrators exploit economic vulnerabilities, using technology to gain trust, tempt, threaten, and even produce and distribute abusive material involving children. Zara Shah shared that her traumatic online gaming experience has left her living in fear. “I was afraid then, and I am still afraid,” she said.
